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<br />MR. SHERMAN: No thoughts. <br /> <br />MR. STAPLETON: Then I will entertain an appropriate motion from the <br />Board. <br /> <br />MR. KROEGER: . Mr. Chairman, I don't want to do anything that is con- <br />trary to the recommendation. of the staff, but it is my understanding I <br />that Felix doesn't necessarily endorse it, but neither does he dis- . <br />agree with the possibility that we can have the additional funds, so- <br />now for the motion, I would move that we accept the budget as prepared <br />here with the addition of $850,000- for construction funds for the <br />Animas-La Plata. <br /> <br />MR. STAPLETON: Is there a second to that motion? <br /> <br />MR. JACKSON: Second. <br /> <br />MR. STAPLETON: It has been moved and seconded. <br /> <br />MR. SHERMAN: I just want to make a very brief statement to the motion. <br />It has previously been the policy of the Department of Natural Resources <br />that prior to endorsing any project for construction, it is important <br />for us to seek the' final-definite plan reports; have an opportunity to <br />weigh those reports; carefully consider those reports. In that sense, <br />I am not going to vote against the motion--I will vote with the motion <br />--but I think it has to be understood, at least from our standpoint, <br />that that is an important consideration. We have applied that policy <br />across the board to virtually every project in the State of Colorado. <br />I don't see any reason why the Animas project would be an exception to <br />that. So I think it is extremely important that we seCure the funds. for <br />the Animas-La Plata project to complete the definite plan report. I <br />think that is critical and important to the state. As to continuing on <br />with the construction plans, I think the department would certainly want <br />to reserve its judgment until we have had an opportunity to carefully <br />review that report. That is the only comment I wanted to make to the <br />motion. <br /> <br />MR. SPARKS: The Governor has not endorsed the Animas project because <br />the definite plan report has not been completed. This is one of the <br />problems with this addition. Nevertheless, we can propose it to the I <br />Governor. I think we have eliminated any practical or reasonable objec- <br />tion to the adverse environmental impact of the Animas-La Plata project <br />by removing the planned dam on the-Animas River. I think the Board <br />hasn't had a chance to read the summaries, but a major objection to the <br />Animas-La Plata project was the proposed dam on the Animas River. <br />That has now been eliminated. In lieu of that dam,-a pumping station <br />would be put in the river below Durango, An off-channel dam would be <br />constructed and there would be a direct pumping from the river at a . <br />point which is some miles below Durango. It does then vastly reduce <br /> <br />- -8- <br />